Prior to Tuesday night’s game at Dodger Stadium between the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres in game two of the 2017 season, Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager was presented with his 2016 Silver Slugger award. The soon-to-be 23-year-old (on April 27) Charlotte, NC native received the prestigious award for his remarkable slash-line of .308/.365/.512 for an outstanding OPS of .877, for which he was also named the 2016 National League Rookie of the Year.

For those unfamiliar with the Silver Slugger award trophy, it is absolutely beautiful, albeit a bit large.

2016 Silver Slugger award winner Corey Seager.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

Seager received his trophy as many of the (eventual) crowd of 42,196 fans were still filtering into the stadium after battling late rush hour traffic and shortly before Dodgers right-hander Kenta Maeda made his first pitch of the game.

Unfortunately for Seager, the 42,196 fans, and most of all Kenta Maeda, Padres veteran left-hander Clayton Richard rained all over their parade by throwing eight innings of shutout/five-hit ball against the defending NL West champs.

Richard was so on his game that in addition to inducing an incredible 12 ground outs that included four devastating double plays, he did not allow even one Dodger to reach second base, while striking out five and walking two. Richard’s performance was so dominating that it even exceeded that of the other Clayton the day before.

The 6′-5″/240-pound 33-year-old Lafayette, Indiana native ended up making a total of 99 pitches (68 for strikes) in his outstanding eight innings of work, of which many were 92(-ish) MPH sinking fastballs that Dodger hitters were simply unable to get under and elevate. In fact, his sinker was so effective that the same Corey Seager who had been presented with his Silver Slugger bat only moments earlier, actually lost his bat while swinging at one of Richard’s sinking fastballs. Fortunately, the new MLB-required netting at Dodger Stadium prevented Seager’s bat from making it into the stands. After retrieving his bat, Seager promptly grounded into an inning-ending double play.

As most Dodger hitters were, Seager was so badly fooled by Clayton Richard’s sinker that he lost his bat attempting to make contact with it. (Note the position of the catcher’s glove).
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

In contrast to Richard, Maeda was… well, not so good on Tuesday night. In fact, after having Padres leadoff batter Travis Jankowski down in the count 0-2, Maeda walked him. It was very obvious very quickly that Maeda’s fastball command was virtually nonexistent. And though it appeared to get a little better after his 29-pitch first inning, he ended up allowing three runs on six hits while walking two and striking out four in his 5.0 innings pitched.

The Padres added another run in the top of the eighth after Dodgers right-hander Ross Stripling allowed three singles (aided by a throwing error by Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal) to give the Friars the eventual 4-0 win over the Dodgers.

The silver lining to Tuesday night’s otherwise dark cloud is that Dodgers outfielder Franklin Gutierrez, whom the Dodgers acquired during the off-season solely for his ability to hit lefties, did just that, collecting a single off of Richard.

So there’s that.